Sankhya (Skt. सांख्य) is one of the six orthodox schools of Indian philosophy.

Sankhya philosophy:

• Proposes a dualism of consciousness (purusha) and matter (prakriti)

• Analyzes reality into 25 principles (tattvas)

• Influences the path of knowledge's analytical approach

On the Path of Knowledge, Sankhya's analysis is appreciated but its dualism is rejected in favor of nonduality.

Sankhya is one of the six orthodox schools of Indian philosophy (darshanas), founded by kapila. It provides the analytical framework of purusha (consciousness) and prakriti (nature) that advaita vedanta adapts.

Key Teachings

• Sankhya enumerates 25 principles (tattvas) from prakriti to the gross elements, providing a complete map of experience.

• The key insight of Sankhya is the distinction between purusha (the witness, consciousness) and prakriti (the seen, nature).

• Advaita Vedanta accepts Sankhya's analysis but adds a 26th principle brahman as the unity underlying both purusha and prakriti.

• Liberation in Sankhya is the realization that purusha is distinct from and never bound by prakriti.

Related Concepts

• Kapila

• Purusha

• Prakriti

• Tattvas

• Darshanas

• Indian Philosophy

• Advaita vedanta

• Eastern philosophy